Bleeder for liquid-storage tanks



C. S. CRICKMER BLEEDER FOR LIQUID STORAGE TANKS June 2, 1925- 1,5403% Filed Feb. 25. 1924 3 Sheets Sheet 1 June 2, 1925 1,540,206 C. S. CRICKMER swamp FOR LIQUID STORAGE TANKS Filed Feb. 23. 1924 3 Sheets -Sheet 2 gj'wuentoz 65(966/776 61cm neg June 2, 1925. 1,540,206 I 4 4 C. S. CRICKMER BLEEDER FOR LIQUID STORAGE TANKS Filed Feb. 23. 1924 s Sheets -Sheet Snow 1 Fox 6.5 (UM/216' Patented June 2, 1925.

"UNIFIED STATES 15, 6 PATENT OFFICE.

cmnns s. cnrc mnn, or DALLAS, TEXAS, essreivon 'r'o eomnnson conronurron,

.OILDALLAS, Texas. A conronArroN or DELAWARE.

BLEEDER FOR LIQUID-STORAGE TANKS.

To all'whom it ma g concern; v Be it known that I, CnARnE's S. CRICK- 1mm, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dall/lasand State of Texas, have (invented certain' new and useful Improvements in Bleed.- ers. for, Liquid-Storage Tanks, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in bleeder-s forjliquid storage tanks. l

Many liquids such as crude oil contain water and when stored in tanks this water collects-at the bottom of the tank andbiiilds up l a residue or ofi'al ,which is frequent'l sugked up bylthe pum in removing the 011 or Iiquid fromthe tan y The object of the invention is to provide means for automatically draining the accurnulated water from the bottom of the. tank in a simple and expeditious manner.

A further 'objec'tof the. invention is to utilize the molecular adhesion or viscosity of the oil or other liquid as'compared with the greater specific gravity or weight of wateror equivalent liquid, together wlth the lesser viscosity of the water; whereb the oil floats upon the water and the atter seeps through or penetrates a seal'set up by a) the oil.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide means. for bleeding water from more viscous liquids, which includes spaced correlated surfaces inclined sufliciently to afford drainage nd-a gradual precipitation ofiwaterthroug viscous or ad ering liquid, which latter,

owingto the proximity of the inclined surfaces, build npby adhesion and seal the passage against a discharge or flowof 'the more viscous or less fluent liquid. I

' A further object is to provide a. restricted inclined channel of suflicient length to give the molecules of the oil portumtyto check' a '45 the downward'flow. of t e oil by adhering to the walls of the channel and building up a seal or oil gate, which preventsthe esca of the oil, but which is-p'enetrated-by t e water owing to its greater specific gravity I and fluidity.

A. still further, object isto provide a bleeder of thecharacter described which includes means for adjusting the channel surfaces with relatlon to each other and in accord- 6 6 of Fig. ,5,

' the molecules of the more form,

ance with the viscosity of the less fluent liquids.

Another object of the invention is'to provide means having inclined -.co nica'l surfaces Of SllffiClGIlt amplitude to form a molecular sealandpermit an adequate drainage of the water.

A further object is to provide a bleeder having a plurality of conicalmembers and means for centering the members in concentr1c relation and ,unlformly spacing their correlated inclined surfaces.

'.A construction designed to carry out the invention will be. hereinafter described together with other features of the invention. The invention will be more readily unders stood'froinja reading of the following sp'ecification and by reference to the accompanying drawingsg ifn" yvhich' an example of-the in vention is shown; and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional 'view'of a bleeder constructed in accordance with my lIlVeIlt1OI1,

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line Fig. 3is a cross-sectlonal view on the line Y 0f 1 7 Fig.4 is an enlar Fig. 5 is a partial form of a core, 4

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line ed sectional detail,

elevation ofa modified Fig. 7, 1s a view partly in section and partly in. elevation of another form of bleeder,

Fi 8 is an end view of the same, a portion eing 'shown in section v Fig. 9 1s a broken elevation of one of the cor sleeves,

F g. 10 is anenlar on the line 10-100 Fig.- 11 is a sectional ed cross-sectional .view Fig. 7,

Fig. 12 is a. cross-sectional view-on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11,

Fig. "13 is a sectional view of a modification of the form shown in Fi 11 View of stillanother' Fig. 14' is a cross-sections. view on the line 14-44 of Fi '13, and Fig. -15,is a, etail showing the bleeder connected to the tank- In the drawings the numeral 10 designates an elongated conoidal-housinghaving a re-' duc'ed 11. at its .PPQ end and-an an nular flange 12 at its lower 'end, both exter- -nally screw threaded. An annular shoulv peri hery. H

The disk is surmounted by a reduced boss der 13 is provided at the base of the collar and a joint 14 screwed on the collar engages the shoulder and lies flush with the housing. The joint has a-screw threaded socket 15 at its upper end for receiving a pipe 16, which as is shown in Fig. 15, is connected with a horizontal p'pe 17 leading from the bottom of a storage tank 18.

An annular cap or receptacle 19 is screwed onto the flange 12 and has a depending axial shank 20. The shank is bored and. has an internal stufling box flange 21,-above which it is scr'ew threaded. .A gland nut 22 is mounted on the shankand has a follower engaging in the stufling box. A stem 23 extends through the shank and -l1as screw threads 24 engaging inthe screw threads of the shank. The, stem supports a circular disk 25 having a turning fitin the flange 1-2 and provided with vertical duets26 in its 27'on which is mounted a conical core member 28 having its. surface contiguous to and parallel to, theinner surface of the housing; The corehas a trunnion 29 at its upper end having a rotating lit in the dollar 11. By turning the stem 23 the core is raised or lowered and moved toward or from the inner surface ofthe housing, whereby the .space therebetween is varied andregulated. The screw threads 24 and the trunnion 29 maintain the core on its vertical axis, so. that the adjacent surfaces of the core and housing remain parallel du'ring adjustments- The trunnion has acentral well 30 from i the bottom of which radial ports 31 extend through the trunnion.- The. housin I just,

above the core atit s intersection witht e collar, has an annular grotrve 32 surrounding the ports. A drain pipe 33 leads from the bottom of the cap 19 within the flange 12. The

disk'25 is normally spaced above the bottom of the cap.

Theldevice operates as follows Ahole is dug in the ground at the bottom of the tank, 18 (Fig.15) and the pipe 17 is tappedinto the tank'so s to drain the bottom thereof. The verti alw connected to the" pipe 17, t e joint 14 is screwed onto the lower end of the pipe 16 and the bleeder is thus suspended in the ;holebelow the bottom of the tank. It will be ap- 7 parent that the liquid will flow from the bot- .tom of the tank through the ipe's 16 and 17 into-the well 30"of the trunmon 29. The liquid from the well passes through the ports 31 into the groove 32. 1

, Iftheflow is from a crude oiltank the liq-. uid will comprise oil and water. As oil tends to float upon water, it will be seen that the water will collect at ,the bottom ofthetank and therefore will flow with a propor thus provide a cut-olfvalve'.

' are adjacent the upper and lower ends of the pipe 16 .being inner surface of the tion of oil and residue, to the bleeder. When this vli uid enters the restricted space betweent einner surface of the housing 10 and the core 28, the molecules of the oil will adhere to the surfaces and bridge the space, thus forming a seal; therefore I have called. this space a seal chamber or channel. Owing to the inclination of the channel and the molecular adhesion of the oil, the dOlVll". ward movement of the oil will be checked sufficiently to prevent any appreciable leak at the bottom. The water being heavier and less adhesive, liquid, will seep through the oil seal and drain from the lower edge of the core. By reason of the reduced boss, a drip edge is provided at the bottom of the core and the water falls onto the disk 25 from which it escapes through the ducts 26.

If a discharge of oil is shown the stem23 may be turned to adjust the core and reduce the seal chamber or if the water is not freed a reverse adjustment may be made. It is also possible to move the core into contact with the inner surface ofthe housing and In Figs. 7 tov 10 inclusive, I have shown another form in Whichis provided a hous-' ing having a cylindrical lower portion 40 and a comca'l'upper portion 41' The-oonical portion, 41 is merged into-a collar. 42 and thecylindrica'l portion 40 has an'outwardly directed flange 43 at itslower end. An an- 6 nular trough 44 has an 'outwardy directed flange 45 astenedto the underside of the flange 43 by bolts 46. The troughlh a's an outlet 47 into which a dishargeypipe (not 1 shown) may be screwed A. truncated conical core 4 8 v extends upwardly from the inner edge of the trough into the portion 40. ofthe housing. The inclined surface of the corejis I arallel iof the portion 41 of theshousing. plurality. of truncated conical sleeves 49 are nested within each other and supported on the core. These sleeves are provided, with spacing bosses 50 on their outer surfaces jand the core 48 has like bosses 50'. .These bosses parts and space them atpthe same distance, the bosses on the upper sleeve engaging the conical'portidn 41 of the housing. p

The sleeves are of such length as to terminate within the conical ortion 40 of the housin in juxtaposition; t ereto.- The 11 per en of the core is closed and forms t ottom of a. well 51 extending up through the center of the sleeves. The space between each, pair of sleeves opens to the well and liquids from'the pipe 16 screwed into the, collar 42 in flowing down said well, enter the openings to the seal chambers and flow. down s id sleeves. The spaces between 1 0 the sleeves are controlled by the projections of the bosses and the proportions of the housing. Thev viscous molecules seal the spaces and the water seeps through and drips into the trough 44:. An adjustment may be made by replacing the core with one greater or less height carrying sleeves with the spacing required.

In-Figs. 11 and 12 I have illustrated another form comprising a truncated conical housing '60 which is made with less inclination than the other forms, and has a shank 61 atits upper end surmounted by a collar 62 internally screw threaded to form .a socket to receive the pipe 16. The shank has a plurality of vertical ports 63 surrounding a central screw threaded opening 64:. A truncated conical core 65 has a screw threaded trunnion 66 engaging in the opening 64. A handle stem 67 depends from the center of the core. The surface of the core is concentric to the inner surface of the housing and by rotating the core, by means of the handle stem 67, it is adjusted with relation to the housing, whereby the seal-channel or chamber is regulated.

The upper surface 68 or the core is dished so that the liquid may pass freely over the edge of the core and down the sidesof the latter. The liquid enters through the collar 62 and flows down through the ports 63 to the dished surface 68 from which it overflows into the space between the core and the housing, the oil sealing and the water seeping through and dripping from the lower edge of the core.

A further modification is shown in Figs. 13 and 14 in which the same parts are used with the exception of a longer stem 66. Between the core and the housing a plurality of nested truncated conical sleeves 69 are provided. All of the sleeves have spacing bosses 70 on their under surfaces, similar to the bosses 50, whereby they are supported and spaced from the core and each other.

' The uppermost sleeve has bosses 71 on its upper surface spacing it from the inner surface of the housing.

In Fig. 6 I have shown the core 28 provided with circumferential grooves '12 spaced apart at suitable intervals. These grooves form sumps for the more viscous molecules of the oil or other liquid from which water or heavier liquid is being separated. These grooves can be used to advantage for checking any downward passage of the oil, which 'results in a leak. Light bodied oils may be held in this manner and an effectual seal may be had with greater spacing of the parts. While oil and water have been referred to, the invention may be used wherever the liquid to be drained out has greater specific gravity and less viscosity than the liquid which is to be retained.

Various changes in the'sizc and shape of 1. In atank bleeder, a housing having an inclined inner Wall, "and a member having an, inclinedouter wall CODtigHOUS'tO the inner wall of the housing to form a seal channelv therebetween.

2. A tank bleeder comprising two members with an inclined seal channel therebetween for bleeding a heavier liquid from a more viscous liquid, .said members being spaced in such relation as to utilize the specific gravity molecular adhesion of the more viscous fluid to bridge and seal the channel therebetween and to permit the heavier liquid to seep through said channel and escape. I

3. A tank bleeder comprisin two members with a seal channel there etween for bleeding a heavier liquid from a more viscous liquid, said members being spaced in such relation as to utilize the molecular adhesion of the more viscous fluid to bridge and seal the channel therebetween and to permit the heavier liquid to seep through said channel and escape, and means for, ad justing one of said members with relation to the other to vary the transverse space between the members and to vary the depth of the channel in accordance with the viscosity of the less fluent liquid.

4. A tank bleeder comprising two ,members having parallel inclined adjacent surfaces, said members being spaced in such relation as to utilize the molecular adhesion of a viscous liquid passing down said inclined surfaces to seal the space between said members against the escape of said viscous liquid but to permit aheavier and less viscous liquid to seep through and escape.

5. A tank bleeder comprising two members having parallel inclined adjacent surfaces, said members being spaced in such relation as to utilize the molecular adhesion of a viscous liquid passingdown said inclined surfaces to seal the space between said members against the escape of said liquid but to permit a heavier and less viscous liquid to seep through and escape, and means for adjusting one of the members withrelation to the other to vary the space therebetween.

6. In a tank bleeder, a housing having a maximum opening at its upper end, and provided with ,a downwardly gradual increasing seal channel having the same transverse area from top to bottom.

7 In a tank bleeder, a housing havin an inlet at its upper end,said housing aving an inclined inner surface, and means within the housing having an inclined surface parallel to the inclined surface of the housing and spaced in such close relation ing an inclined inner annular surface, anda member within the housing having an inclined surface concentric within the said vannular portion of said housing and spaced in juxtaposition thereto.

9.'In a tank'bleeder, a housing having an inlet at its upper end and provided with an inclined annular portion below said inlet. and an inclined annular member disposed concentrically within the inclined annular portion of the housing and co-acting with said inclined portion to form'a seal channel therebetween. I a I 10. In a tank bleeder, a housing having a conical portion, and a conical member fitting concentrically within the conical portion of the housing so as to provide a conical space between the housing and. the member. s

11. In a tank bleeder, ahousing having a cortical portion, a conical member fitting concentrically within the conical portion of the housing, and means for s acing the conical member from the housing to regulate the space therebetween;

12. In a tank bleeder, a housing having a collar at its upper end for attachment to a suspending pipe, said housing having a conical portion below the collar, and a conical core concentrically disposed Within the housing and co-acting with the conical portion of the housing to form a seal channel therebetween',

In testimony whereof I aflEix my signature.

CHARLES s. CBICKMER. 

